There are three types of hedge trimmers available – corded electric, cordless electric and petrol fuelled.

Corded electric ones tend to be light and easy to use and suitable for most small to medium-sized gardens. Do bear in mind they can only be used close to a power socket or with an extension lead and there is a risk of accidentally cutting the cable.

Cordless hedge trimmers provide a solution, as they have a battery that can be removed and recharged. Mind you, some can run out as quickly as 20 minutes on one charge and they tend to be more suitable for regularly trimmed hedges.

Petrol hedge trimmers are another alternative and are particularly good if you have large or overgrown hedges far from a power point. The downsides are that they tend to be heavy and noisy, as well as creating exhaust fumes.

Whichever type you decide on, we have picked the best ones available – from the budget option of the Flymo EasiCut 510 right through to the pricier Mountfield MHJ2424, which boasts a whole host of handy features.

We found it hard to fault to the cordless Black and Decker GTC3655L20, which is quiet, powerful and effective for keeping hedges neatly trimmed. In second place comes the Flymo EasiCut 6000XT, which is fantastic for taller hedges.